07/28/2012

The Ticats overcame a 19-point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 35-34 in Regina on Saturday.

You'll have to read to the end to believe it.

The Riders opened the scoring on their first possession of the ball game, marching 62 yards in 11 plays and converting two short third downs in the process. The second featured featured Rider running back Kory Sheets diving over the pile and into the end zone for a quick 7-0 lead.

The Ticats got three of that back on their first crack with the football. Andy Fantuz, making his return to Saskatchewan after signing with the Ticats as a free agent in February, made a 16-yard catch and Luca Congi – another Rider refugee – kicked it through from 32-yards out.

Despite a week of non-stop talk about the potential of a rude reception, Rider fans went easy on Fantuz. While their were a smattering of boos when he came onto the field and after his first catch, the reaction seemed to be more “meh” than “boo.”

A Josh Bartel punt single cut the lead to three early in the second quarter but Riders' kicker Chris Milo hit from 46 – with Chris Williams waiting in the end zone had he missed – to give Saskatchewan a 10-4 lead.

The Ticats got that back on their next possession but likely should have had more. A holding penalty negated a first-and-goal situation and two plays later, receiver Onrea Jones dropped what would have been a tough but make able touchdown throw from Ticat QB Henry Burris. Luca Congi kicked it through from 27.

Saskatchewan put together a long drive of their own as the half wound down but the Ticats D would only bend so far and the Riders were forced into a chippie field goal that made half time score 13-7.

TThe third quarter had not been kind to the Ticats through the first four games of the season, getting outscored to the tune of 35-10 and this time, it would almost prove to be their undoing.

The Riders got the first point off a missed Milo field but Burris responded with a six-play, 75-yard drive that finished up with 21-yard pass to Williams who made one guy miss then charged into the end zone. With just over six to play in the nemesis quarter, the game was tied.

Not for long. On the very next play from scrimmage, Durant hit a wide open Taj Smith for a 74-yard touchdown pass – defensive back Geoff Tisdale was in the chase position – and gave the Riders their seven point lead back. A face-mask penalty on the Ticats allowed the Riders to boot the ensuing kickoff into the end zone for a single and a 22-14 lead.

After a Ticat two-and-out, the Riders scored again, this time via a 33-yard Milo kick. Another Ticat two-and-out, more Rider points: two-play, 61-yard drive that ended with 20-yard pass from Durant to Jock Sanders and came, fittingly, on the last play of the quarter. By the time the fourth started, it was 32-14 and for good measure, they got a single on the kickoff.

With the third quarter over, the Ticats could get back to playing decently. Burris hit Sam Giguere with a long pass deep into Rider territory then fired a 10-yard strike to Jones for a touchdown that cut the lead to 12.

More Ticats comeback. After Brandon Boudreaux strip caused Durant to fumble, Rey Williams returned it to the Riders 23. Two plays later, Burris found Dave Stala wide open in the end zone and what looked an insurmountable Rider lead just a few minutes earlier was now just five.

Until it wasn't. After forcing Saskatchewan two-and-out, Burris put together another superlative drive, capped by a nifty third down play that left Jones wide open in the end zone from five yards out. With three-and-half to play, the Ticats had their first lead of the night, 35-33.

The Riders moved the ball into field goal range with 90 seconds left but Milo missed wide right from 47 and Saskatchewan got just one. Hamilton went two-and-out – with running back Chevon Walker stopping the clock by running out of bounds – and the Riders got one more shot with 45 seconds left.

It was not to be. Durant threw three incompletions and the Ticats waltzed away with the victory.

As they head to the bye-week, the Ticats are now 3-2, winners of three straight and in first place in the East Division.

Wiping out a 19 point deficit in the 4th quarter to win the game is special but, as Drew said, doing that in a place where you haven't won since 2000, away from home, against the Riders in front of their 33K screaming fans, adds a whole new dimension to "special".

I love Cortez's honest answer about why he did not go for 2 points - he had just used the 2 point play to get the touchdown. Kevin Glenn did not have a good game against BC - if he bounces back it could be a great game against Hamilton on August 9 - have not checked the schedule though - he might have a game in between.

Great game our cats...they played right til the end.although we won, i think cortez made a mistake by not going for 2 points....that could have cost us dearly.i also think ray played a good game in place of knowlton.

I was there and at 32-14 I was ready to leave. I give the defence some credit. They put the clamps on when needed, but that secondary is awful. Durant threw for close to 400 yds. Bo Smith despite his interception was in a trail position most nights....and again I think needs to go. The D line did get some decent pressure on Durant w/o bringing the house which was good to see.

Special teams were fair at best....had Tristan Jackson not gotten hurt it might have been a different story. Williams had no return game at all.

O-line..to me this might have been their best game of the year....one sack against and gave Henry ample time.

The offence seems to be humming....but until that defence gets fixed....shootouts will be the norm. But just glad to finally see a win in Regina since 2002.....

@Ticat Mike - I hope Chamblin was choking on fur balls!! What a heart stopper!! Ticats do need to play better in the third, especially when they are trailing. It's a little easier to take when they have a comfortable lead. However I'd much rather have a team that takes its foot off the gas in the third and goes full speed in the 4th, than one that puts on the brakes in the fourth and screeches to a stop aka Riders! I was losing faith in Jones after those drops but he did redeem himself with the 2 TD catches. Unfortunately Williams and Walker weren't able to gain much yardage on most of their touches but Hamilton youth will benefit from Williams one TD. Rey Williams had another great game, even without his sidekick, Knowlton. Durant had the opportunity, much to my chagrin to get this one back, but instead panicked and let the pressure get to him with those tosses into the turf. Ticats now have a nice break and here's hoping when they return, they start playing ALL four quarters of football well!!

Chevron Walker has yet to fumble, is a breakaway threat,and done a great job catching passes out of the backfield ,but has made mistakes on not staying in bounds, but hey he is a new guy and his game breaking ability will keep him in the lineup, too bad that the Cats can't get both Walker and Conourne in the lineup, but Cortez has done a great job in getting the most out of the offence so fans let the coach do the coaching. 3-0 in the last 3 weeks wasn't accomplished against soft touches ( toronto, montreal and now the riders ) so maybe this guy knows what he is doing !
Oh yeah, great job by the O line giving Burris time to find receivers to-night!

Richinbanf: Can't they just let the ball go through the end zone in the U.S. and play from the 20? Maybe Walker was thinking the ball was going to go through the end zone. He seemed hesitant on the play.

If the Ticats had gone for 2 point at the end and missed, Williams likely would have just ran the ball out of the end zone and we would have had the same result - a 1 point margin - he did not run the ball out of the end zone because he was probably told not to and to try to run some time off the clock.

Cats were full measure for the win. Henry looked great and hung tough. I thought Bo Smith had a good game. Walker needs a good talking to. He shouldn't run out-of-bounds to kill the clock when Cats are trying to run it out. Also,someone should remind him he's playing in CANADA where you have to at least catch the ball in the end zone since on a kickoff it's anyone's ball. Time to give Avon a shot at runnung back!

Wow - that was exciting - Congratulations Cats - a gutsy effort. I don't know if my heart can take this but the outcome was well worth it. We wondered what team would show up for this game and it appears both type of teams showed up but fortunately, the team of the last 2 games played the fourth quarter.
Here are a few observations:
Loved seeing Cory Chamblin's face during the last few minutes of the game as he slowly saw his team's huge lead dissipate.Was that a foot in his mouth or a mouth full of crow?
Also, nice to hear the stadium crowd go very quiety - wonderful feeling of disbelief.
Someone - anyone - please - teach Chevon Walker how to stay in bounds during the last couple of minutes of a game where we hold a lead and need the clock to wind down.
That's the third game he's gone out of bounds in similar situations.
DBs still a scary group --- and concerns over run defense .
A final question -Why didn't the Cats go for a 2 point convert when they took the lead at the end of the game?

Hey Noodles My Dad is the same & Thinks he jinxes the team. No worries - They toughed it out to win @ Mosaic. Nice to stay focused & play to the end. I thought it was over after 45 min. I'm glad they kept the faith.

Wow! Let me first apologize to all and especially the Ticats. When the Riders went up 32 - 14 I figured that was it. I turned over to watch episodes of Hogan Heroes. So when I turned back to see the last 3 suspense filled minutes..I was shocked (and pleased).

Of course...I've often felt that somehow I've been a jinx to this team as it seems when I watch they lose...if I turn over...they win.